New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘Duesspfire’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Duesspfire’ characterized by its upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; bright red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUESSPFIRE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of NewGuinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens×hybrida andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duesspfire’.

The new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Encinitas, Calif. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Impatiens plants with numerousattractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofa proprietary selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code numberNN-0020-X0000, not patented. The new Impatiens plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within apopulation of plants of the parent selection in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Encinitas, Calif. on Dec. 8, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif.since Jan. 9, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newImpatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duesspfire’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duesspfire’ as a new and distinct Impatiensplant:

-   -   1. Upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Bright red-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the parentselection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants ofthe parent selection in flower color as plants of the parent selectionhave darker red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants ofImpatiens×hybrida ‘Misato FG3’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,662.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘Misato FG3’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of        ‘Misato FG3’.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘Misato FG3’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘Misato FG3’ have magenta-colored        flowers.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants ofImpatiens×hybrida ‘SAKIMP022’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,500.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Encinitas, Calif., plants ofthe new Impatiens differed primarily from plants of ‘SAKIMP022’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens were more compact than plants of        ‘SAKIMP022’.    -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens and ‘SAKIMP022’ differed in        flower color as plants of ‘SAKIMP022’ have cherry red-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Duesspfire’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Duesspfire’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15.25-cmcontainers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. andunder cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiensproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 24° C. to 27° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and lightlevels averaged 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were ten weeks old when thephotographs and description were taken. In the following description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens×hybrida ‘Duesspfire’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of a proprietary    selection of Impatiens×hybrida identified as code number    NN-0020-X0000, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to            seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and            winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.            and night temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading and            mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about            twelve lateral branches developing per plant; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 37 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 17 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 9 mm to 14 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 3.2 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Close to N186C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite or in whorls; simple.        -   Length.—About 8.9 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrulate with ciliation.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Somewhat glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully            opened leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close            to 147C. Fully opened leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 147C.        -   Petiole length.—About 1.8 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 3 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 183D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rounded and flat            axillary flowers; freely flowering habit, typically about 55            flower buds and open flowers per plant at one time; flowers            positioned above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers            typically face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about one to two            days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals            self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse            conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall            in temperate regions; early flowering habit, plants            typically begin flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Ovoid, pointed. Color: Close to 47A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4 cm by 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 2 cm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a            single whorl; one upper banner petal, two lateral petals and            two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 2 cm. Width,            banner petal: About 3 cm. Length, lateral petals: About            2 cm. Width, lateral petals: About 1.7 cm. Length, lower            petals: About 2.2 cm. Width, lower petals: About 2.3 cm.            Shape: Cordate. Apex: Cordate; emarginate. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 46A. When opening, lower surface: Close to 53B. Fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 46A; towards the base, close            to 53A; color does not change with development. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 45B; color does not change            with development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;            one modified into an elongated spur. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 5 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Apiculate.            Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to 185B. Spur length: About 7.2 cm. Spur diameter: At            the flower, about 3 mm; towards the apex, about 1 mm. Spur            texture: Smooth, glabrous. Spur color: Close to 185B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Angle: About 35° to 45° from stem axis. Strength:            Strong; flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            185A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at            anthers; filaments free. Filament length: Less than 1 mm.            Filament color: Close to 1D. Anther size: About 2.5 mm by            3 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 46A.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A.            Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            7 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 145C.            Style color: Close to 146A to 146B. Ovary color: Close to            146A to 146B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Impatiens.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Impatiens have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Impatiens    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed    to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging    from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Duesspfire’as illustrated and described.